MLS endures tie-dyed regular season

The ninth season of Major League Soccer started with Freddy Adu Weekend on that chilly Saturday afternoon at RFK Stadium back in April. It ended much in the same way, as D.C. United closed out the regular season with a victory in front of its home fans.

This time, it wasn't about Freddy as a novelty act, but rather as Freddy the soccer player - one of several standout soccer players for D.C. United, a team that somehow survived an early-season media crush, a rough 3-6-4 start and a rookie head coach just two years removed from playing in the league.

In between early April and late October, however, Adu and D.C. United weren't the story. In fact, no team or player was The Story in 2004. If anything, it was about parity. That was the first thing heard out of anyone's mouth when talking about the league from the beginning of the season on.

Seven of the 10 teams had nine or more ties. The top five teams in the league were separated by a mere eight points. And the bottom two teams could have been in the playoffs with a better result on the final day of the regular season.

MLS 2004: You Always Have A Chance.

Save it, Columbus Crew fans. Same to you in K.C. You were not the big story.

While both conference champions played some magnificent soccer throughout the season, neither team won more than half of its games.

As good as Columbus was during its impressive 18-game unbeaten streak, its record over that time was 8-0-10. So there's no question that side knows how to get a result and sidestep defeat, but no one should start putting this team in the same sentence as some of the D.C. United squads in the '90s, Miami Fusion's 16-5-5 record over just a 26-game season in 2001 or L.A. Galaxy's 16 victories in 28 games in 2002.

Of course, we're talking regular season here. The rest of the story has yet to be written. A continued run by the Crew would make them special, yes. Same goes for Bob Gansler's Wizards, who may be the unofficial top seed entering the playoffs. And what if San Jose bounces back from the verge of not making the playoffs and somehow finds itself playing for a second MLS Cup title in a row and third in four years?

The next four weeks will truly tell the story of 2004. Until then, all we can do is look back on the season that was. Here's a glimpse at the year's best:

MVP: Jaime Moreno, D.C. United
This 30-year-old striker was left for dead after two injury-filled seasons that saw him post a grand total of five goals and four assists with D.C. in 2002 and with the MetroStars last year. But with his injury problems behind him, Moreno gave the Black-and-Red faithful a sense of déjà vu this season as the former Bolivian international looked like the dangerous player he was under Bruce Arena and Thomas Rongen during the '90s. With seven goals and 14 assists, he was involved in nearly half of the side's 43 goals and is the main reason Peter Nowak's club ascended to second place in the Eastern Conference after just barely making the playoffs in 2003 with a losing record (10-11-9).

2. Joe Cannon, Colorado Rapids. 3. Amado Guevara, MetroStars.

Rookie of the Year: Clint Dempsey, New England Revolution
This one was splitting hairs between Dempsey and Columbus Crew defender Chad Marshall. The versatile midfielder/striker out of Furman simply was more valuable to his team, and was one of the top players in the entire league during the first half of the season. His strong play for the Revs in their playoff-clinching victory over Chicago last weekend sealed it, as Dempsey got his side on the board with the first of their two goals and was a force throughout. No matter who wins the award at the MLS Gala next month, both Dempsey and Marshall could get a bigger prize with call-ups to the U.S. National Team for the Jamaica match on Nov. 17 in Columbus.

2. Marshall. 3. Jordan Cila, Colorado Rapids.

Coach of the Year: Bob Gansler, Kansas City Wizards
While losing Preki was a huge loss, having to play the final two months without Chris Klein -- perhaps the finest flank player in MLS -- was a much more difficult obstacle to overcome. Yet, somehow the Wizards kept winning even when Gansler was forced to shift lineups with injuries and national team call-ups that Josh Wolff and Kerry Zavagnin kept receiving to lead the league in wins (14) and stay atop the Western Conference. As is usual with Gansler's teams, defense was the main focus of this club. And it succeeded, allowing the least goals (30) of any team in MLS for an average of just 1.00 a game. Well done.

2. Greg Andrulis, Columbus Crew. 3. Peter Nowak, D.C. United.

Goalkeeper of the Year: Joe Cannon, Colorado Rapids
Cannon's numbers were similar with Jon Busch's in Columbus, but Busch had a far superior backline in front of him. Plus, Cannon serves as his team's main voice in the locker room and is the only reason his side was able to get into the playoffs without having to sweat it out on the final weekend of the season. He'll get several MVP votes for his efforts, as well.

2. Busch. 3. Kevin Hartman, Los Angeles Galaxy.

Defender of the Year: Robin Fraser, Columbus Crew
What a signing this was for the Crew. From the moment he arrived in camp, the 37-year-old defender stabilized the team's defense and became one of the true leaders in a locker room full of veterans. His strong play and organizing capabilities helped ease Marshall into the lineup, and also gave Andrulis the luxury to go to a three-back system from its usual 4-4-2 of the past. Fraser's performance and influence on the team was reminiscent of the way Jeff Agoos came into San Jose in 2001 and led the team to a championship with his inspired play in the back.

2. Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City Wizards. 3. Eddie Pope, MetroStars.

Best Game: Columbus 4, MetroStars 2, Sept. 18
A back-and-forth affair featuring the two sides that held first place in the East for most every weekend of the 2004 season. Two leads by the MetroStars were erased on goals by Edson Buddle. For good measure, he added two more tallies in the second half to not only seal the win, but also clinch a playoff berth. With his four goals, Buddle became only the sixth player to accomplish such a feat, and definitely sent a message to those in the East who'd be chasing Columbus for the rest of the season.

2. San Jose 2, New England 2, July 24. 3. MetroStars 5, San Jose 5, May 8.

Best Goal: Edson Buddle, Columbus
When you're hot, bombs like the one Buddle hit against Chicago on Oct. 6 find a way in the net. Midway through the second half of a scoreless tie, Simon Elliott played a free kick to his right giving Buddle a chance from 25 yards out. While many opportunities like this result in a deflection from one of the defenders leaving a wall, Buddle's shot snuck through the area rifling at the center of the goal. Just when goalkeeper Henry Ring seemed to have a bead on it, the ball curved wickedly to the right before finding the side netting on the upper right side of the goal. It was a shot that no keeper in the world would have made a save on, and the type of bend that even Marco Etcheverry would have been very proud to call his own.

2. Cornell Glen, MetroStars with a deceptive heel off an Eddie Gaven cross against San Jose during that 5-5 affair May 8. 3. Ronnie O'Brien nutmegging Orlando Perez on a brilliant run into the box before beating Henry Ring in a 4-1 victory over Chicago on Aug. 28.

Best XI: Joe Cannon, Colorado, Chad Marshall, Columbus, Eddie Pope, MetroStars, Robin Fraser, Columbus, Jimmy Conrad, Kansas City, Steve Ralston, New England, Kerry Zavagnin, Kansas City, Landon Donovan, San Jose, Amado Guevara, MetroStars, Jamie Moreno, D.C., Eddie Johnson, Dallas.

Marc Connolly covers American soccer for ESPN Soccernet.com. He can be reached at: marc@oakwoodsoccer.com